There are plenty of ghosts tours to choose from in Colonial Williamsburg, but by far, the best one in my book is the Ghosts Among Us Tour, offered by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
The only tour in Williamsburg Ghost Tour that actually takes you inside historic buildings, tickets can be purchased at the Lumber House Ticket Office or online at https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/calendar/ghosts-amongst-us .
We paid $18 per person for this experience, and it was well worth every penny.
Our tour started at the Lumber House Ticket Office on the Duke of Gloucester Street. We checked in at the window where we were assigned to our group for the evening.
Our ticket taker then directed us to a meeting location just a few steps away from the ticket office. After a very short wait, our guide, dressed in colonial clothing, met us on the street, carrying a lantern with a single candle burning in it.
Our tour guide then set the mood for the tour, explaining a few rules and a bit about the history of hauntings in Colonial Williamsburg.
The James Geddy House
Our first stop was the James Geddy House. We were escorted inside, and seated in a parlor, illuminated only by a single candle.
Our guide then introduced us to our first storyteller, an indentured servant girl who told the ghoulish tale of the murder of her friend Jenny. The storyteller was fully in character the whole time, and definitely made the story come to life.
At the end of her tale, we were escorted out of the building and down the Palace Green, while our tour guide elaborated on the story, giving us a more historical perspective.
The George Wythe House
The next stop on our Williamsburg Ghost Tour was the George Wythe House. Lanterns lined the front stairs, where we were escorted inside to another parlor.
Our second storyteller was escorted in and told us a tale about the specter of Death. Again, the story was elaborate and beautifully told to our group.
After the conclusion of this story, our tour guide escorted us outside, and elaborated on some of the superstitions and myths of colonial times.
The Governor’s Palace
Our final stop on the tour was in the Governor’s Palace. Unlike our other encounters, this time our storyteller was already seated in the parlor waiting for us when we entered the room.
A disheveled looking man in his early 50’s, he sat in a chair next to a single candle and began spinning a tale of crime, punishment, and murder. His eerie laugh made the experience very engaging.
When he stood at the end of the story, revealing his full height, it only added to the intimidation and tension of the story.
Our tour concluded with our guide leading us back out onto the Palace Green, and answering questions for us.
The tour was extremely enjoyable. The stories were scary without being overly gory or inappropriate.
There was enough tension to make listeners jumpy in a fun way without terrifying anyone so much that they would be upset by it. The actors were very good, especially in the close quarters of the parlors, and made the experience spooky and fun.
The tour isn’t recommended for children ages 12 and under, and I would agree. The subject matter, especially in the last story in the Governor’s Palace, would likely be troubling to younger kids.
There was a child on our tour who appeared to be about 9 or 10 years old. The child seemed like she was a bit too scared, her family skipped out on the last stop on the tour.
I would definitely take this Williamsburg Ghost Tour again, and would recommend it to anyone visiting Colonial Williamsburg who enjoys this kind of thing.
